TopicsPolitician AnalysisDaniel Gooi Zi Sen

Daniel Gooi Zi Sen

Daniel Gooi Zi Sen

Party
DAP · Democratic Action Party
Coalition
PH
Constituency
Padang Lalang
State
Pulau Pinang
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Why this matters to you

As Penang's State EXCO for Youth, Sports and Health, Gooi directly oversees policies that affect public health services at state clinics, the enforcement of smoking and vaping bans at restaurants and F&B outlets, and youth skills training programmes accessible to Penangites (Source: bernama.com). Residents at hospitals such as Seberang Jaya Hospital fall under his oversight remit for service quality and health protocols (Source: thestar.com.my). Penang athletes, sports event organisers, and young jobseekers are among those directly impacted by decisions made under his portfolio (Source: bernama.com, freemalaysiatoday.com).

Party History

Loyalist

Has never switched parties.

Career span
2018–2023
Career win rate
100%
  1. DAP

Data from Lompat (by Zach Yek), built on the Malaysian Election Corpus (by Thevesh Thevananthan). CC0.

Summary

Daniel Gooi Zi Sen (born 1987) is a DAP politician and member of the Penang State Executive Council, serving as the state assemblyman for Padang Lalang since August 2023 and holding the Youth, Sports and Health portfolio under Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow. He previously served as assemblyman for Pengkalan Kota from 2018 to 2023, having been the youngest DAP candidate in the 2018 Penang state election. His tenure as EXCO has centred on public health enforcement, sport development, and youth affairs in Penang.

Biography

Daniel Gooi Zi Sen (Chinese: 魏子森; born 11 June 1987 in Bukit Mertajam, Penang) is a Malaysian politician and member of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) [1]. He has served as a Member of the Penang State Executive Council (EXCO) under Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and as Member of the Penang State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Padang Lalang since August 2023 [1]. Prior to this, he served as MLA for Pengkalan Kota from May 2018 to August 2023 [1]. He is the Branch Chief of the Chemor Lane branch of DAP [1]. Gooi was educated at SJK (C) Kim Sen and Jit Sin High School, before reading Tourism Management at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, graduating in 2009 [1]. He joined DAP in 2010 and served in the office of the then-Penang State EXCO for Tourism, Law Heng Kiang [1]. He subsequently served as DAP Penang's project planner from 2012 to 2013, and thereafter as special officer to the State EXCO for Housing, Jagdeep Singh Deo, following the 2013 general election [1]. In the 2018 state election, he was the youngest DAP candidate in Penang, contesting and winning the Pengkalan Kota seat [1]. Following the 2023 Penang state election, he was appointed to the Penang State EXCO and assigned the portfolio of Youth, Sports and Health [2]. He comes from a family with a DAP background; his uncle, Gooi Seong Kin, contested the Berapit seat in the 1995 general election under the DAP banner [1].

Known for

Gooi is known as the Penang State EXCO chairman for Youth, Sports and Health, overseeing public health policy, sports development, and youth affairs for the state [2]. He was the youngest DAP candidate in the 2018 Penang state election and has since served two consecutive terms as a state assemblyman [1]. He has been a visible advocate for smoke-free public spaces and the enforcement of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) in Penang [2].

Political positions

As State EXCO for Youth, Sports and Health, Gooi has focused on public health enforcement, including the rollout of Act 852 governing tobacco and vaping products, and overseeing compliance by food and beverage operators across Penang [2]. He has advocated for the expansion of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at public locations including markets, health clinics, and government offices [3]. He has also championed free influenza vaccination programmes for senior citizens and expanded access to healthcare infrastructure [2]. On youth employment, he highlighted the role of the Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC) in equipping youth with market-relevant skills [4]. On sports, he has stated the state government's commitment to supporting local football development and athlete preparation, including for SUKMA 2026 [2]. He has taken a cautious, consultative approach to the vaping industry, conducting stakeholder engagement sessions before considering any state-level ban on vape sales [2].

References

  1. [1]en.wikipedia.org
  2. [2]bernama.com
  3. [3]thestar.com.my
  4. [4]malaysiakini.com

Education

  1. Early schoolingAttended SJK (C) Kim Sen and Jit Sin High School in Penang.⛓
  2. 2009Graduated from Universiti Malaysia Sabah with a degree in Tourism Management.⛓

Before politics

  1. 2010Joined DAP and began working in the office of Penang State EXCO for Tourism, Law Heng Kiang.⛓
  2. 2012–2013Served as project planner for DAP Penang.⛓
  3. Post-2013After the 2013 general election, served as special officer to Penang State EXCO for Housing, Jagdeep Singh Deo.⛓

Political career

  1. May 2018Won the Pengkalan Kota state seat in the 2018 general election, contesting under the PKR flag as DAP's youngest candidate in the Penang state election.⛓
  2. August 2023Contested and won the Padang Lalang state seat (N15) in the 2023 Penang state election under the DAP banner, as part of the PH-BN coalition that secured a two-thirds majority.⛓
  3. August 2023Sworn in as Member of the Penang State Executive Council (EXCO) and assigned the portfolio of Youth, Sports and Health.⛓

Election history

  • 2023Padang LalangWon⛓
  • 2018Pengkalan KotaWon⛓

Stance evolution

Public statements grouped chronologically. The party tag shows which party the politician was contesting under at that point.

  1. 2026DAP
    • Although the current risk of Hantavirus transmission in Malaysia is low, we are still taking precautionary measures, including tightening monitoring at international entry points and increasing laboratory capacity to assist with detection.

      Press conference at the Penang State Legislative Assembly building regarding Hantavirus risk and Penang's health security measures at international entry points. · Source

    • We advise those taking part in sports to remain aware of their health levels, stay hydrated, and avoid pushing themselves beyond their physical limits.

      Press conference regarding a heatstroke death at a Penang hill run event. · Source

  2. 2023DAP
    • Further action will be taken to prevent this incident from recurring and do not let this isolated incident tarnish the reputation of our healthcare system, as all our medical personnels are working very hard to ensure Penangites receive quality treatment.

      Responding to a dress code dispute at Seberang Jaya Hospital involving a senior citizen and security personnel. · Source

Perspectives on key issues

  • GovernmentBernama reported that Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow assigned Gooi the Youth, Sports and Health portfolio upon the swearing-in of the new Penang EXCO in August 2023, describing the new line-up as reflecting political maturity within the unity government.⛓
  • VerifiedFactsDAP officially fielded Gooi Zi Sen for the N15 Padang Lalang seat in the 2023 Penang state election, which PH won as part of a two-thirds majority coalition outcome of 29 out of 40 seats.⛓
  • IndustryAccording to Bernama, representatives from the Vape Entrepreneurs Group Association met with Gooi to raise concerns about Act 852 and its impact on the vaping industry, describing the Act as one of the strictest regulatory frameworks in the country compared to other industries.⛓

Sources

Every URL the AI used to draft this profile, for editor and reader verification.

Reviewed by editorHigh confidence